Angry, need advice asap

**Thrash** · 05-26-2010, 08:31 AM

I just got done with the first half of my final in Bird Watching, which is a field portion. We just walked around in the woods and attempted to identify birds, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
Because of the difficutly of the class and the exam, every person cheated except for me and this other guy. They just hung back and check answers with each other. Usually I let nature take its course. People who do things like this will eventually reap what they sow....
However, I am all the more angry because I have had quite a bit of difficulty in this class. I am colorblind, which makes identifing many of the birds very very difficult. So, while I am trying my best every one else is checking answers with each other. The only person being honest (besides the one other guy) is the one with the handicap.

Because of this situation, I am very close to emailing the professor and bringin it to his attention. He may have noticed, but I cannot be sure.
So, should I email him?

guitarman531 · 05-26-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrash

I just got done with the first half of my final in Bird Watching, which is a field portion. We just walked around in the woods and attempted to identify birds, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
Because of the difficutly of the class and the exam, every person cheated except for me and this other guy. They just hung back and check answers with each other. Usually I let nature take its course. People who do things like this will eventually reap what they sow....
However, I am all the more angry because I have had quite a bit of difficulty in this class. I am colorblind, which makes identifing many of the birds very very difficult. So, while I am trying my best every one else is checking answers with each other. The only person being honest (besides the one other guy) is the one with the handicap.

Because of this situation, I am very close to emailing the professor and bringin it to his attention. He may have noticed, but I cannot be sure.
So, should I email him?

What is your professor's stance on cheating? I had a class where the prof repeatedly encouraged us to report cheating... If your prof isn't that way, he might just get annoyed with a tattler and it might be harder on you...

Unless your grade is somehow related to the cheaters' [like scores are curved or something], I wouldn't make a big deal of it. There's not much that you personally will gain, imo. Especially if this is the end of the semester.... The prof will probably need some sort of substantial evidence if he's going to take action against the students and he probably won't want to deal with that headache...

**Thrash** · 05-26-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarman531

What is your professor's stance on cheating? I had a class where the prof repeatedly encouraged us to report cheating... If your prof isn't that way, he might just get annoyed with a tattler and it might be harder on you......

Not sure what his stance is. I go to a Christian University, so I hope he would discourage cheating. Unfortunately his syllabus is rather lacking....

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarman531

Unless your grade is somehow related to the cheaters' [like scores are curved or something], I wouldn't make a big deal of it. There's not much that you personally will gain, imo. Especially if this is the end of the semester.... The prof will probably need some sort of substantial evidence if he's going to take action against the students and he probably won't want to deal with that headache...

That is true. I have no substantial evidence. I am just hoping that he would realize that most of their answers are the same. I find it hard to believe he didn't realize that they were cheating, though.
I guess I am just hoping he will create some sort of curve, or just throw this portion out, because it was notoriously diffcult....

But, as you mentioned, it would be a bad idea to annoy the prof. Just pretty mad about this. Seriously? Why do people have to be jerks and cheat? Why can't they take responibility for their lack of preperation? (those are rhetorical questions, btw....

)

bobthecockroach · 05-26-2010, 09:27 AM

Your school has a policy on reporting academic dishonesty. Find out what it is.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 05-26-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrash

I just got done with the first half of my final in Bird Watching, which is a field portion. We just walked around in the woods and attempted to identify birds, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
Because of the difficutly of the class and the exam, every person cheated except for me and this other guy. They just hung back and check answers with each other. Usually I let nature take its course. People who do things like this will eventually reap what they sow....
However, I am all the more angry because I have had quite a bit of difficulty in this class. I am colorblind, which makes identifing many of the birds very very difficult. So, while I am trying my best every one else is checking answers with each other. The only person being honest (besides the one other guy) is the one with the handicap.

Because of this situation, I am very close to emailing the professor and bringin it to his attention. He may have noticed, but I cannot be sure.
So, should I email him?

Personally, I would try to talk to him face to face. I would also have the other guy with you. There will be hard evidence of cheating, your testimony, and the exams themselves.

OiBoyz · 05-26-2010, 11:05 AM

I think if you're going to tell him, Bill's advice is good. Another aspect to consider is that fact that it is a Christian college. He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much and vice versa. It's a lesson that these "Christian" students need to learn.

Cheaters suck.

guitarman531 · 05-26-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

Personally, I would try to talk to him face to face. I would also have the other guy with you. There will be hard evidence of cheating, your testimony, and the exams themselves.

But if it's a bird identification [not an essay or personal opinion section], will that still count? IMO, it'd be like proving cheating on a multiple choice exam...

As far as testimonies are concerned, I would make sure that you keep emotion out of your confrontation. If you give the prof the impression that you're an angry/disadvantaged young person, then he'll probably be more inclined to dismiss your report as a desperate attempt to get a better grade. If you present matter-of-fact, I'm guessing you'll be taken much more seriously.

Pre-Ex-Girlfriend · 05-26-2010, 07:05 PM

My first reaction is that it is the students and not the prof you should be approaching. I don't know how big this class is, so I don't know how doable that is. However, confronting the cheaters seems to be the best thing to do. Also, does your prof know you are colorblind? If not, I think you should at least let him know that.

tlj009 · 05-27-2010, 07:31 AM

I suggest that you drop it. I just don't see any good coming from it.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 05-27-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pre-Ex-Girlfriend

My first reaction is that it is the students and not the prof you should be approaching. I don't know how big this class is, so I don't know how doable that is. However, confronting the cheaters seems to be the best thing to do. Also, does your prof know you are colorblind? If not, I think you should at least let him know that.

No, plagiarism and cheating are an academic matter.

Going to the students is a good way to get other people to strike first. I have seen that too many times. Going to the prof will be good because he can make the call as to whether it is important.

Just for what its worth, I have worked as a TA for around a decade now, and some profs would care, some wouldn't. The prof would prefer to make the call.

Ben Colder · 05-27-2010, 08:16 PM

I am birdwatcher. If the professor is worth his salt he will be able to tell who is cheating. Although many birds can frequent a certain area during the year, there are times of the year when certain species are absent. Also some birds stay away from forests and prefer open lands, others pass through your area and don't remain. Others are very shy and their presence is only detectable by their song. All these facts should be known by the professor and he should be able to look at the lists and know who is cheating. And don't be afraid to mention the other person who was honest. If his list is consistent or similar to yours, it should back up your contention. And don't email the professor. Discuss it face to face.

pooleman0 · 05-28-2010, 09:14 AM

I say drop it. Worrying about the integrity (or lack of) of others will turn into a full time job. This kind of thing will happen not just in your college classes but at work, in church, everywhere. And you certainly can't tattle to every superior about every act of dishonesty and lack of integrity you encounter. I would just drop it. Worry about you and your witness.

jthomas1600 · 05-28-2010, 10:52 AM

First of all, good for you and your one friend for having some integrity.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is the possibility that the professor might not consider this cheating. I have been in classes that were less academically stringent where "group collaboration" was acceptable. Might bird watching be one of these classes? Some times the teacher will explicitly say "this can be a group project" and sometimes it's implied. Could it be that the other students (weather rightly or wrongly) were under the impression that what the were doing was OK?

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 05-28-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pooleman0

I say drop it. Worrying about the integrity (or lack of) of others will turn into a full time job. This kind of thing will happen not just in your college classes but at work, in church, everywhere. And you certainly can't tattle to every superior about every act of dishonesty and lack of integrity you encounter. I would just drop it. Worry about you and your witness.

It isnt tattling. This is a form of plagiarism which is an academic crime usually punishable by expulsion. It is not a light matter.

JThomas, thats why I suggested bringing this to a professor. He can make the judgment call because ultimately, its up to him as to whether this was acceptable behavior or not.